School choirmaster Edward Moore jailed after having sex with a pupil

Edward Moore, 24, from Ascot, admitted having sex with a pupil at King Edwards School

A former choirmaster at a private school has been jailed for nine months after admitting having sex with a pupil.

Edward Moore, 24, from King Edwards Road, Ascot, developed a close relationship with the girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, after he supported her during the trial of her former music teacher who had sexually touched her.

The court heard the pupil, then 16, had approached Moore and told him she had been abused. He reported the allegations to the school, and gave witness statements in the trial which eventually put the teacher in jail for four months, for six offences.

Guildford Crown Court heard on Friday, April 17 that Moore had become the girl's informal counsellor.

Gary Ponds, prosecuting, said: “Moore was able to see she was worried about the reactions of her parents, staff and students.

“She reached out to him.

“She said she found it easier to talk to him and she would go to his office after school.”

During that period, rumours spread and staff became concerned about the relationship Moore had with the pupil. In summer 2013, he was called in for a meeting with the headteacher, deputy headteacher, and the pupil’s tutor, and told to end all contact with her, to which he agreed.

Mr Ponds said: “In September 2013, school resumes, and the defendant told her he was upset that contact between them had stopped.

“On the fifth anniversary of his mother’s death, he asked her for help and she offered to help him and comfort him because he had helped her.

“He gave her his personal mobile number, and they quickly began to communicate.”

The pair met in the school chapel in the evenings, and their conversations became more personal, the court heard. He invited her to his home in the Isle of Wight in the half term break while his father was away and they also met once in London.

The first offence took place in Moore’s office in October 2013, where the pupil was rehearsing. At times things became passionate, the court heard, but he stopped at her request.

A week later, in the office, he took her virginity and he did not wear a condom, the court was told.

Afterwards, he said ‘Oh my God, you have to forgive me. You will hate me one day.’

Moore sought to distance himself from her, but by July, the pupil had confessed to an inappropriate relationship with a staff member to the school’s chaplain, and had also been in touch with Childline, who called the police.

Moore confessed to the police immediately, and gave a full statement which mirrored the victim’s. Defending, Rina-Marie Hill said Moore was an unqualified teacher, with a full timetable, who did not know how to cope, but felt ‘shame’ for the way he had ruined her education.

She said: “The activities ceased because of Mr Moore’s actions. He realised he had gone too far.

“It was a mistake and one he will pay for the rest of his life.”

Moore was dismissed from the school in September 2014.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Moss said: “You were, I understand, 23 at the time, and it was your first teaching position. Your responsibility was as choirmaster, and there was no direct teaching with her.

“It is tribute to you that it was to you that she first turned when she complained of inappropriate sexual touching by a former teacher at that school. It is said by those who know you that your behaviour then was nothing short of exemplary.

“You provided this damaged and vulnerable child with help and unhappily for both of you it turned into a friendship.

“It is at best charitable to say that this was unwise, and at worst it was grooming.

“Her vulnerability was to accept your vulnerability. You began to share kisses in the chapel and there was a secret trip to the Isle of Wight.

“The message must be understood by those in positions of trust, however young you are, and however immature your emotions are. You were 23, an intelligent man, who knew what you were dealing with.

“There can be no mercy for those who abuse that.”

Judge Moss also said his immediate regret would have damaged her perception of the ‘loving relationship’ and that his attempt to distance himself would be seen as rejection.

Moore was sentenced to five months for one count of digital penetration, and nine months for one count of sexual intercourse, to run concurrently.